Woman arrested for murder, stealing Rs 7.5 lakh

Mangalore Today News Network

Mar 16, 2015, DHNS: A 50-year-old woman was today arrested by Magadi Road Police for poisoning a home maker to death for gain.  The suspect identified as Vijayalakshmi is a resident of Ganesh Temple, Handigudisilu, KP Agrahara.

The police recovered Rs 7.5 lakh, 200 gram silver and 50 gram gold ornaments from her house. Vijayalakshami had murdered Manimegalai, 47, a resident of KP Agrahara on March 13 and had fled with the valuables, said the police. The suspect had befriended the victim recently.

When Manimegalai told Vijayalakshami that her family was planning to relocate to another place and her husband and son were searching for a house and that her husband had kept Rs 7.5 lakh ready for the purpose, Vijayalakshmi plotted to loot the victim.

She claimed that she was facing financial difficulties and requested Manimegalai to lend some money. Manimegalai replied in the positive and asked her to come to her house on March 13 for the same.

The suspect then bought cyanide which she mixed with soft drink in a glass which was consumed by the victim. To make the murder look like an accident, she set fire to the bed and fled with Rs 7.5 lakh and gold and silver jewellery which were kept inside the almirah.

Ilangovan, the victim’s son returned home at 2.10 pm and grew suspicious as the front door was open.  He rushed inside to find his mother lying on the bed that had caught fire. He called up his father and neighbours. The neighbours rushed inside and realised that Manimegalai was dead.

A case was registered and the police took up the probe. Some neighbours told the police that they spotted a middle aged woman, who had a boy cut hair style, coming out of Manimegalai’s house around afternoon on March 13.

The police collected other credible leads and arrested Vijayalakshami. During the interrogation,  she confessed to the crime.